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From Secret Ballot to Democracy Sausage: How Australia Got Compulsory Voting
It’s compulsory to vote in Australia. We are one of a handful of countries in the world that enforce this rule at election time, and the only English-speaking country that makes its citizens vote. Not only that, we embrace it. We celebrate compulsory voting with barbeques and cake stalls at polling stations, and election parties that spill over into Sunday morning. But how did this come to be? When and why did we begin making Australians vote? What effect has it had on our political parties, our voting systems, our participation in elections? And how else is the way we vote different from other English-speaking democracies? From Secret Ballot to Democracy Sausage is a brilliant essay-length book by the celebrated historian Judith Brett, the prize-winning biographer of Alfred Deakin. This is a landmark account of the character of Australian democracy.
208 pages, ebook
First published January 1, 2019
86 people are currently reading
832 people want to read
About the author
Judith Brett
22 books23 followersJudith Brett is the author of Quarterly Essay 19, Relaxed and Comfortable: The Liberal Party’s Australia, Robert Menzies’ Forgotten People and Australian Liberals and the Moral Middle Class: From Alfred Deakin to John Howard and a regular commentator for The Monthly. She is professor of politics at La Trobe University.
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October 29, 2024
This Saturday, Australians will go to the polls to elect our 46th parliament. I’ll be away from home, but I will be able to wander into any polling booth to easily cast my vote. My brother in America will send in a postal vote. My sister on holiday in Germany will vote at an embassy there. My parents voted two weeks ago at a pre-polling station.
Voting in federal elections has been compulsory in Australia for 95 years, but the price of abstaining is small, a mere $20 fine. Even so, virtually everyone who is eligible to do so will vote. It’s possible to submit an invalid or blank ballot paper, thereby dodging the fine, but hardly anyone will do that either. By forcing people to vote, Australia has created a nation of politically engaged citizens who love to vote.
Elections are administered by an independent, non-partisan body which ensures the electoral roll is as complete and accurate as possible, and that voting is available to all. There is telephone voting for the blind, postal voting for the housebound, mobile polling teams visiting hospitals, prisons, remote locations etc. Changes of address on the roll are dealt with seamlessly, thanks to data sharing between various agencies. The system is impartial and uniform across the country. When the law says citizens must vote, as a corollary you have to make it easy for them to vote.
Our political system is far from perfect. Election campaigns can be still be downright ugly and marred by lies, pork-barrelling and smearing of opponents. Minority interest groups have far less influence here than in other countries, which can be good or bad depending on the interest group and your point of view. When *everyone* votes, both sides of politics court the middle ground, meaning elections are fought over middle-class, mainstream issues (or at least issues that the parties have framed as such), which again can be good and bad. But we don’t have problems of voter suppression, tampering, rigging, or gerrymandering. Whatever the result, everyone’s voice counts.
Judith Brett’s book is a fascinating history of how we came to have this system that we often take for granted. In addition to compulsory voting, our method of preferential voting (rather than ‘first-past-the post’) and its consequences, the (historically early) enfranchisement of women and the shameful disenfranchisement of Aboriginal people are briefly examined.
‘How we got here’ is a complex historical muddle of genuine efforts to devise the fairest, most democratic and majoritarian system possible, and self-interested attempts to manipulate the system for partisan advantage, in ways that can seem counterintuitive today. Labor opposed Aboriginal men having the vote, because it was assumed those working on farms would vote the way their wealthy white bosses told them to. Conservatives supported women’s suffrage, because it would swell the numbers of city voters, which benefited them. Non-Labor parties advocated preferential voting, so as not to hand a win to Labor by cannibalising each other’s votes (today, preferential voting tends to benefit Labor). The actual effects of each measure were not nearly so predictable, and these efforts frequently backfired, but once enacted the measures were politically entrenched and all but impossible to reverse. Ironically, it seems, the jockeying for advantage by both sides resulted in a virtually tamper-proof electoral system that is extremely difficult to manipulate to one side’s advantage.
“The combination of Saturday (elections) and compulsory voting creates the distinctive holiday spirit of Australian election days.” Brett says, and this is indeed true. Anyone can set up a stall outside a polling booth, so lots of community groups use the opportunity to do some fundraising with cake stalls and outdoor sausage sizzles (hence the tradition of eating a ‘democracy sausage’ on election day). It’s like having thousands of mini neighbourhood fetes all at once, with an emphasis on voting being orderly, pleasant, and even fun.
From Secret Ballot to Democracy Sausage is not a dry textbook or an in-depth analysis (criticisms of the system are given short shrift), but rather it is an accessible, quick and easy read for anyone casually interested in Australian elections and political history. It’s also a timely reminder to Aussies (who might be feeling a little disillusioned with politics right now) of just how lucky we are.
Voting in federal elections has been compulsory in Australia for 95 years, but the price of abstaining is small, a mere $20 fine. Even so, virtually everyone who is eligible to do so will vote. It’s possible to submit an invalid or blank ballot paper, thereby dodging the fine, but hardly anyone will do that either. By forcing people to vote, Australia has created a nation of politically engaged citizens who love to vote.
Elections are administered by an independent, non-partisan body which ensures the electoral roll is as complete and accurate as possible, and that voting is available to all. There is telephone voting for the blind, postal voting for the housebound, mobile polling teams visiting hospitals, prisons, remote locations etc. Changes of address on the roll are dealt with seamlessly, thanks to data sharing between various agencies. The system is impartial and uniform across the country. When the law says citizens must vote, as a corollary you have to make it easy for them to vote.
Our political system is far from perfect. Election campaigns can be still be downright ugly and marred by lies, pork-barrelling and smearing of opponents. Minority interest groups have far less influence here than in other countries, which can be good or bad depending on the interest group and your point of view. When *everyone* votes, both sides of politics court the middle ground, meaning elections are fought over middle-class, mainstream issues (or at least issues that the parties have framed as such), which again can be good and bad. But we don’t have problems of voter suppression, tampering, rigging, or gerrymandering. Whatever the result, everyone’s voice counts.
Judith Brett’s book is a fascinating history of how we came to have this system that we often take for granted. In addition to compulsory voting, our method of preferential voting (rather than ‘first-past-the post’) and its consequences, the (historically early) enfranchisement of women and the shameful disenfranchisement of Aboriginal people are briefly examined.
‘How we got here’ is a complex historical muddle of genuine efforts to devise the fairest, most democratic and majoritarian system possible, and self-interested attempts to manipulate the system for partisan advantage, in ways that can seem counterintuitive today. Labor opposed Aboriginal men having the vote, because it was assumed those working on farms would vote the way their wealthy white bosses told them to. Conservatives supported women’s suffrage, because it would swell the numbers of city voters, which benefited them. Non-Labor parties advocated preferential voting, so as not to hand a win to Labor by cannibalising each other’s votes (today, preferential voting tends to benefit Labor). The actual effects of each measure were not nearly so predictable, and these efforts frequently backfired, but once enacted the measures were politically entrenched and all but impossible to reverse. Ironically, it seems, the jockeying for advantage by both sides resulted in a virtually tamper-proof electoral system that is extremely difficult to manipulate to one side’s advantage.
“The combination of Saturday (elections) and compulsory voting creates the distinctive holiday spirit of Australian election days.” Brett says, and this is indeed true. Anyone can set up a stall outside a polling booth, so lots of community groups use the opportunity to do some fundraising with cake stalls and outdoor sausage sizzles (hence the tradition of eating a ‘democracy sausage’ on election day). It’s like having thousands of mini neighbourhood fetes all at once, with an emphasis on voting being orderly, pleasant, and even fun.
From Secret Ballot to Democracy Sausage is not a dry textbook or an in-depth analysis (criticisms of the system are given short shrift), but rather it is an accessible, quick and easy read for anyone casually interested in Australian elections and political history. It’s also a timely reminder to Aussies (who might be feeling a little disillusioned with politics right now) of just how lucky we are.
October 28, 2024
Australia is one of the oldest democracies and a world leader in electoral reform. Australian colonies established the secret ballot in the mid-19th century. Women gained the right to vote in some colonies in the late-19th century and nationwide when the country federated in 1901. Australia gradually moved on from its British electoral roots, adopting preferential (instant-runoff) voting for the House of Representatives and the single transferrable vote (a proportional representation system) for Senate elections in the late-1940s. Most notably, compulsory voting was implemented in Queensland in 1915, federally in 1924, and in other states in subsequent decades.
Judith Brett relies heavily on primary sources, such as Hansard records, to delineate the arguments underpinning reform. Curiously, realpolitik sometimes drove these changes; for instance, women were given the right to vote by Western Australia's (WA) conservative government in the 1890s as a countermeasure to the rising support for Labor in booming mining towns. Brett, however, adopts a somewhat condemnatory tone when examining recent attempts by the Liberal Party to abolish compulsory voting, and their decision to use a plebiscite in the process of same-sex marriage reform. Although her conclusions are sound, this tone felt out of place in an otherwise historically neutral and insightful analysis.
In 2018, I wrote a report for a WA Labor politician to guide his thinking on electoral reform for the Legislative Council (LC). Members were elected from six malapportioned districts, with regional districts having greater voting power than metropolitan districts. This system favoured the Nationals and, to a lesser extent, the Liberals. I argued for a single statewide electorate, but concluded it was unlikely to become law due to the LC's conservative bias. However, Labor won a majority in the LC for the first time in 2021. The Electoral Legislation Amendment Bill soon passed, establishing a single electorate, and will take effect in next year's election.
Judith Brett relies heavily on primary sources, such as Hansard records, to delineate the arguments underpinning reform. Curiously, realpolitik sometimes drove these changes; for instance, women were given the right to vote by Western Australia's (WA) conservative government in the 1890s as a countermeasure to the rising support for Labor in booming mining towns. Brett, however, adopts a somewhat condemnatory tone when examining recent attempts by the Liberal Party to abolish compulsory voting, and their decision to use a plebiscite in the process of same-sex marriage reform. Although her conclusions are sound, this tone felt out of place in an otherwise historically neutral and insightful analysis.
In 2018, I wrote a report for a WA Labor politician to guide his thinking on electoral reform for the Legislative Council (LC). Members were elected from six malapportioned districts, with regional districts having greater voting power than metropolitan districts. This system favoured the Nationals and, to a lesser extent, the Liberals. I argued for a single statewide electorate, but concluded it was unlikely to become law due to the LC's conservative bias. However, Labor won a majority in the LC for the first time in 2021. The Electoral Legislation Amendment Bill soon passed, establishing a single electorate, and will take effect in next year's election.
March 25, 2019
4.5★s
“Our early federal politicians were proud of Australia’s reputation as a democratic laboratory. Determined to create a fair and accessible electoral system, they tinkered away until they got it right… As problems emerge and priorities change, Australian politicians have been willing to innovate.”
From Secret Ballot To Democracy Sausage: how Australia got compulsory voting is a non-fiction book by Australian historian, Judith Brett. From the state governments before federation through to the present day, Brett explains how and why different aspects of voting evolved, and who pioneered the various innovations like the format of the ballot paper, voting booths, preferential voting, non-partisan electoral administration and Saturday polling day with its associated holiday vibe.
It is apparent on every page that this book is thoroughly researched and meticulously referenced. As emeritus professor of politics at La Trobe University, Melbourne, Brett certainly knows her stuff and gives the reader a wealth of information, all of which is presented in an easily digestible form, so the book is never dry or boring.
Brett relates the process that led to the vote for women, one which, incidentally, also involved the (shameful) disenfranchisement of Australian Aboriginals along with native Asians, Africans and South Pacific islanders, although, bizarrely, not New Zealand Maoris living in Australia, who were permitted to vote as: “Maoris, with their villages, settled agriculture and capacity to organise war, were generally regarded as more civilised than Australia’s Aborigines.”
On compulsory voting, Brett concludes: “This was not, as has sometimes been claimed, an accidental decision carelessly made by inattentive parliamentarians, but the result of Australia’s confidence in government, its commitment to majoritarian democracy and its willingness to experiment with electoral matters.”
The title is witty and readers familiar with his work will immediately recognise this cleverly designed cover as one by the talented W.H. Chong.
Brett wraps up: “There are many reasons to be frustrated with Australian politics in the second decade of the twenty-first century, as we suffer our sixth prime minister in eight years, but our electoral system is not one of them. What the story of compulsory voting tells us is how very good we are at elections. We should celebrate it.”
If you learn nothing else from this book (highly unlikely), you will understand why countries like Australia and New Zealand quickly and effectively change their gun laws to protect the people while the Americans (probably) never will. Especially for those living in the state of NSW and facing two elections in 2019, but really for everyone in Australia who has, can or will one day vote, this is a very topical read.
“Our early federal politicians were proud of Australia’s reputation as a democratic laboratory. Determined to create a fair and accessible electoral system, they tinkered away until they got it right… As problems emerge and priorities change, Australian politicians have been willing to innovate.”
From Secret Ballot To Democracy Sausage: how Australia got compulsory voting is a non-fiction book by Australian historian, Judith Brett. From the state governments before federation through to the present day, Brett explains how and why different aspects of voting evolved, and who pioneered the various innovations like the format of the ballot paper, voting booths, preferential voting, non-partisan electoral administration and Saturday polling day with its associated holiday vibe.
It is apparent on every page that this book is thoroughly researched and meticulously referenced. As emeritus professor of politics at La Trobe University, Melbourne, Brett certainly knows her stuff and gives the reader a wealth of information, all of which is presented in an easily digestible form, so the book is never dry or boring.
Brett relates the process that led to the vote for women, one which, incidentally, also involved the (shameful) disenfranchisement of Australian Aboriginals along with native Asians, Africans and South Pacific islanders, although, bizarrely, not New Zealand Maoris living in Australia, who were permitted to vote as: “Maoris, with their villages, settled agriculture and capacity to organise war, were generally regarded as more civilised than Australia’s Aborigines.”
On compulsory voting, Brett concludes: “This was not, as has sometimes been claimed, an accidental decision carelessly made by inattentive parliamentarians, but the result of Australia’s confidence in government, its commitment to majoritarian democracy and its willingness to experiment with electoral matters.”
The title is witty and readers familiar with his work will immediately recognise this cleverly designed cover as one by the talented W.H. Chong.
Brett wraps up: “There are many reasons to be frustrated with Australian politics in the second decade of the twenty-first century, as we suffer our sixth prime minister in eight years, but our electoral system is not one of them. What the story of compulsory voting tells us is how very good we are at elections. We should celebrate it.”
If you learn nothing else from this book (highly unlikely), you will understand why countries like Australia and New Zealand quickly and effectively change their gun laws to protect the people while the Americans (probably) never will. Especially for those living in the state of NSW and facing two elections in 2019, but really for everyone in Australia who has, can or will one day vote, this is a very topical read.
Read
February 11, 2022‘As Brett’s splendid book reminds us, the fundamentals of our electoral system should make us all proud.’
SMH
‘A fantastic read’
6PR
‘Excellent…Brett’s book shows how democracy sausages are the symbolic culmination of the proud history of the Australian contribution to electoral and voting practice around the world.’
Canberra Times
‘A book that reminds us how proud we should be on election day: if not of the result, at least of the way it's conducted.’
Sydney Morning Herald
‘Brett’s research is meticulous…Want to know how and why Australia is one of only 19 electoral democracies worldwide that demand compulsory voting? This is compulsory reading.’
Adelaide Review
‘Magnificent…Brett has constructed an excellent, fast-moving narrative establishing how Australia became one of the world’s pre-eminent democracies…[She] skilfully weaves her way through what would be in the hands of a lesser writer a dull, dry topic…Brett is right to point out that we need “more than the Anzac story” to understand our success. From Secret Ballot to Democracy Sausage: How Australia Got Compulsory Voting will be an important part of that conversation.’
Weekend Australian
‘Immensely readable history of our electoral system… Brett has a knack for making institutions fascinating.’
Readings
‘Voting is compulsory in Australia and, were it up to me, so would be reading this book.’
Benjamin T. Jones, Honest History
‘A great treasure that sizzles like the sausage in the title. I’ll be surprised if, by the time you’ve finished it, you don’t, like me, feel a little bit prouder of the Australian democratic system.’
Andrew Leigh MP, Shadow Assistant Treasurer
‘Brett’s writing is capable of extraordinary clarity, insight and compassion.’
Monthly
‘Australia led the world in broadening the franchise and introducing the secret ballot, but few nations followed us down the path of compulsory voting. This absorbing book explains a century-old institution, how it came to be, and how it survives.’
Antony Green
‘The Australian way of voting seems – to us – entirely ordinary but, as Judith Brett reveals, it’s a singular miracle of innovation of which we can all be fiercely proud. This riveting and deeply researched little book is full of jaw-dropping moments. Like the time that South Australian women accidentally won the right to stand as candidates – an international first. Or the horrifying debates that preceded the Australian parliament’s shameful decision to disenfranchise Aborigines in 1902. This is the story of a young democracy that is unique. A thrilling and valuable book.’
Annabel Crabb
‘This book unravels mysteries, and explains the quirks and triumphs of Australia. It answers questions you didn’t even know you had. I learned something on every page.’
Waleed Aly
'Politics aficionados might find this very readable and informative book hard to put down. The solution is simple: read it in one sitting, as I did.'
Inside Story
‘A tremendous piece of work.’
ABC RN Minefield
SMH
‘A fantastic read’
6PR
‘Excellent…Brett’s book shows how democracy sausages are the symbolic culmination of the proud history of the Australian contribution to electoral and voting practice around the world.’
Canberra Times
‘A book that reminds us how proud we should be on election day: if not of the result, at least of the way it's conducted.’
Sydney Morning Herald
‘Brett’s research is meticulous…Want to know how and why Australia is one of only 19 electoral democracies worldwide that demand compulsory voting? This is compulsory reading.’
Adelaide Review
‘Magnificent…Brett has constructed an excellent, fast-moving narrative establishing how Australia became one of the world’s pre-eminent democracies…[She] skilfully weaves her way through what would be in the hands of a lesser writer a dull, dry topic…Brett is right to point out that we need “more than the Anzac story” to understand our success. From Secret Ballot to Democracy Sausage: How Australia Got Compulsory Voting will be an important part of that conversation.’
Weekend Australian
‘Immensely readable history of our electoral system… Brett has a knack for making institutions fascinating.’
Readings
‘Voting is compulsory in Australia and, were it up to me, so would be reading this book.’
Benjamin T. Jones, Honest History
‘A great treasure that sizzles like the sausage in the title. I’ll be surprised if, by the time you’ve finished it, you don’t, like me, feel a little bit prouder of the Australian democratic system.’
Andrew Leigh MP, Shadow Assistant Treasurer
‘Brett’s writing is capable of extraordinary clarity, insight and compassion.’
Monthly
‘Australia led the world in broadening the franchise and introducing the secret ballot, but few nations followed us down the path of compulsory voting. This absorbing book explains a century-old institution, how it came to be, and how it survives.’
Antony Green
‘The Australian way of voting seems – to us – entirely ordinary but, as Judith Brett reveals, it’s a singular miracle of innovation of which we can all be fiercely proud. This riveting and deeply researched little book is full of jaw-dropping moments. Like the time that South Australian women accidentally won the right to stand as candidates – an international first. Or the horrifying debates that preceded the Australian parliament’s shameful decision to disenfranchise Aborigines in 1902. This is the story of a young democracy that is unique. A thrilling and valuable book.’
Annabel Crabb
‘This book unravels mysteries, and explains the quirks and triumphs of Australia. It answers questions you didn’t even know you had. I learned something on every page.’
Waleed Aly
'Politics aficionados might find this very readable and informative book hard to put down. The solution is simple: read it in one sitting, as I did.'
Inside Story
‘A tremendous piece of work.’
ABC RN Minefield
March 16, 2019
Much to my astonishment, I was singing the praises of this book the other day, when it transpired that my friend did not know what a democracy sausage was. So for the edification of those unfortunate citizens who do not enjoy the same privilege as we do here in Australia, an explanation is in order.
Because we are almost unique in the world in having compulsory voting, and because impecunious state schools are very often the place for polling booths all over the country, and because enterprising Parents and Friends associations can spot a good fundraiser when they see one, it has become routine practice for there to be a sausage sizzle so that voters can assuage their hunger pangs in a worthy cause. Indeed on election day there is a dedicated website where you can even scout around for the best democracy sausage options. They don't all offer fried onions or chilli sauce, you know, and some of them have a cake stall as well!
Here is the link to Wikipedia with pictures! Visit my blog to see the democracy sausage map: There are even democracy sausages overseas, the most famous of which is at Australia House in London. (See the video here).
But how has this come about? Indeed, how is it that we take compulsory voting so much for granted that it has taken Judith Brett's lively new history to make me aware of just how amazing it is that we are the only English-speaking country that makes its citizens vote?
Australians shake their heads in bemused dismay at the electoral shambles we've witnessed in the UK and US. Brexit just couldn't happen here. Here, at least when people vote and their side doesn't win, they can console ourselves with the knowledge that it's a democratic result. Compulsory voting means a referendum ignored by a huge cohort of voters but swamped by zealots would carry no weight at all and there could not be the same kind of divisive fallout that is tearing Britain apart because so many people are distraught at the result.
And because voting is compulsory here, the process has been made easy for us. Unlike the Brits, we only have to register to vote once which entitles us to vote in elections for all three levels of government, local, state and federal. The bureaucrats keep the electoral rolls up-to-date; we don't have to. Plus, whereas in Britain you need time off work on a Thursday to vote, we vote on Saturdays, which suits a majority of working people. Whereas in Britain you have to vote in your own electorate so too bad if you're away from home, we can vote wherever we are in the country, and outside of it, because we have absentee voting and postal voting. Yup, I'll be in New Zealand for our next election, but I won't miss out, because I can vote before I go!
To read the rest of my review please visit https://anzlitlovers.com/2019/03/16/f...
Because we are almost unique in the world in having compulsory voting, and because impecunious state schools are very often the place for polling booths all over the country, and because enterprising Parents and Friends associations can spot a good fundraiser when they see one, it has become routine practice for there to be a sausage sizzle so that voters can assuage their hunger pangs in a worthy cause. Indeed on election day there is a dedicated website where you can even scout around for the best democracy sausage options. They don't all offer fried onions or chilli sauce, you know, and some of them have a cake stall as well!
Here is the link to Wikipedia with pictures! Visit my blog to see the democracy sausage map: There are even democracy sausages overseas, the most famous of which is at Australia House in London. (See the video here).
But how has this come about? Indeed, how is it that we take compulsory voting so much for granted that it has taken Judith Brett's lively new history to make me aware of just how amazing it is that we are the only English-speaking country that makes its citizens vote?
Australians shake their heads in bemused dismay at the electoral shambles we've witnessed in the UK and US. Brexit just couldn't happen here. Here, at least when people vote and their side doesn't win, they can console ourselves with the knowledge that it's a democratic result. Compulsory voting means a referendum ignored by a huge cohort of voters but swamped by zealots would carry no weight at all and there could not be the same kind of divisive fallout that is tearing Britain apart because so many people are distraught at the result.
And because voting is compulsory here, the process has been made easy for us. Unlike the Brits, we only have to register to vote once which entitles us to vote in elections for all three levels of government, local, state and federal. The bureaucrats keep the electoral rolls up-to-date; we don't have to. Plus, whereas in Britain you need time off work on a Thursday to vote, we vote on Saturdays, which suits a majority of working people. Whereas in Britain you have to vote in your own electorate so too bad if you're away from home, we can vote wherever we are in the country, and outside of it, because we have absentee voting and postal voting. Yup, I'll be in New Zealand for our next election, but I won't miss out, because I can vote before I go!
To read the rest of my review please visit https://anzlitlovers.com/2019/03/16/f...
March 6, 2019
Most Australians tend to take our voting system for granted, expecting that it is pretty much the standard for other democracies. This splendid and timely book shows how our system is actually quite unique, and rather wonderful for being so. Australia is the only English-speaking country that legally compels its citizens to vote. Our system is a preferential one that was carefully crafted through 24 acts of parliament, and citizens must be listed on the electoral roll. We even invented individual polling booths for our secret ballot. We have turned the voting day (legally only on a Saturday) into a celebratory fair day with sausage sizzles and cake stalls, and kept the populace engaged at a level which is the envy of the world.
There’s a wealth of detail in "From Secret Ballot..." about everything voting, from the pencils up. Award-winning author Professor Judith Brett encourages us to celebrate compulsory voting, despite our growing disenchantment with the major political parties. She points to recent upsets like the Wentworth by-election as examples of how a short campaign by an independent (with minimal funding and no backing of a major party) can be mounted at short notice and still win. This is possible mainly due to the fairly streamlined nature of the electoral system, which has resulted in some unlikely political parties and candidates; some figures of fun, and some not so.
This entertaining history is full of trivia, but also some harder truths concerning the rights of women and indigenous Australians. There are triumphs here too. It is heartening to see how our country once led the world in electoral reform, and how our system generally works better than we think (e.g. prompting an 80% participation rate in the non-compulsory marriage equality vote). This book will make you proud, angry and surprised. A thought-provoking and vital book - read it before the forthcoming elections!
There’s a wealth of detail in "From Secret Ballot..." about everything voting, from the pencils up. Award-winning author Professor Judith Brett encourages us to celebrate compulsory voting, despite our growing disenchantment with the major political parties. She points to recent upsets like the Wentworth by-election as examples of how a short campaign by an independent (with minimal funding and no backing of a major party) can be mounted at short notice and still win. This is possible mainly due to the fairly streamlined nature of the electoral system, which has resulted in some unlikely political parties and candidates; some figures of fun, and some not so.
This entertaining history is full of trivia, but also some harder truths concerning the rights of women and indigenous Australians. There are triumphs here too. It is heartening to see how our country once led the world in electoral reform, and how our system generally works better than we think (e.g. prompting an 80% participation rate in the non-compulsory marriage equality vote). This book will make you proud, angry and surprised. A thought-provoking and vital book - read it before the forthcoming elections!
May 1, 2021
If you'd like to learn how Australia came up with compulsory voting, read this book. It's not a dull, dry political tome, it is about the people of Australia. The author says, "My focus has been the voters, not the parties - the men and women numbering their ballot papers, rather than those standing for election." (pg 182)
Published in 2019, so, it is current, too.
3 Stars = Good. Glad I read it.
Published in 2019, so, it is current, too.
3 Stars = Good. Glad I read it.
March 22, 2019
Really accessible and interesting read on the history of Australia’s electoral machinery: compulsory voting, Saturday elections, and a bunch more.
Any Aussie should read it to better understand how our culture is shaped by electoral norms and vice versa. Americans should read it for some solid counter examples to their particular democratic shitshow.
Any Aussie should read it to better understand how our culture is shaped by electoral norms and vice versa. Americans should read it for some solid counter examples to their particular democratic shitshow.
December 17, 2019
Trigger warnings: disenfranchisement of Indigenous populations, racism, homophobia.
I've been meaning to read this book since it came out and I'm so glad I finally did. It's FASCINATING from start to finish. I don't know that I'd ever really appreciated the benefits of preferential voting, compulsory enrolment, compulsory voting or the Australian Electoral Commission until I read this book. Thank fuck for each and every one of them, I say. It's created a society in which people are politically aware and engaged, where voting is easy (senate ballot papers aside), and where we have faith in our electoral system.
And I had no idea that so many parts of what we take for granted today have been in place for almost a hundred years.
In short, this book was fabulous and I'm very glad I read it.
I've been meaning to read this book since it came out and I'm so glad I finally did. It's FASCINATING from start to finish. I don't know that I'd ever really appreciated the benefits of preferential voting, compulsory enrolment, compulsory voting or the Australian Electoral Commission until I read this book. Thank fuck for each and every one of them, I say. It's created a society in which people are politically aware and engaged, where voting is easy (senate ballot papers aside), and where we have faith in our electoral system.
And I had no idea that so many parts of what we take for granted today have been in place for almost a hundred years.
In short, this book was fabulous and I'm very glad I read it.
May 18, 2019
‘Electoral history is detailed, and it can seem an arcane and specialist area, but the angels of our democracy are in this detail. Its heroes are bureaucrats and parliamentarians, not soldiers and explorers—but they too made our nation. The political stability we have enjoyed for more than a century is evidence of the care they took to create democratic, flexible electoral practices.’
We may not always be proud of our politicians but Australians can hold their heads high about our electoral system. Compulsory voting makes a democracy.
We may not always be proud of our politicians but Australians can hold their heads high about our electoral system. Compulsory voting makes a democracy.
May 10, 2019
‘Not many countries compel their citizens to vote, but Australia is one.’
I added this book to my reading list as soon as I heard about it. While I know a lot about how we vote in Australia, I know less about the history of how we came to vote in this way.
This slim book contains a wealth of facts and figures. I did not know, for example, that while voting is compulsory in 19 of the world’s 166 electoral democracies, only 9 strictly enforce it. I really appreciated Ms Brett’s succinct summary of the differences between the democracies of the USA and Australia.
‘Where the United States favours liberty and rights over democracy and majorities, we favour democracy and majorities over liberty and rights.’
Ms Brett explains this by as being a consequence of British settlement in different centuries. When the early settlers left Britain for America, government was still controlled by the monarch rather than the parliament, and individuals were being persecuted for their religious beliefs. In the early European settlement of America, the thoughts of the seventeenth century English philosopher John Locke were influential. By the time the Australian colonies were establishing their political institutions, the British parliament was in control of the British government. For Australia, the key influence in founding our institutions was the philosopher and political reformer, Jeremy Bentham. Bentham argued that rights are created by law, and laws and rights require government.
It’s been a long time since I read Locke and Bentham.
I was particularly interested in reading about the development of preferential voting. I know how it works but hadn’t spent a lot of time thinking about how (and by whom and why) it was developed.
I share Ms Brett’s conclusion:
‘From the invention of the Australian ballot to the humble democracy sausage, we have been innovators in electoral practice.
There are many reasons to be frustrated with Australian politics in the second decade of the twenty-first century, as we suffer our sixth prime minister in eight years, but our electoral system is not one of them, What the story of compulsory voting tells us is how very good we are at elections. We should celebrate it.’
I’d recommend this book to anyone interested in the history of Australia’s electoral system.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
I added this book to my reading list as soon as I heard about it. While I know a lot about how we vote in Australia, I know less about the history of how we came to vote in this way.
This slim book contains a wealth of facts and figures. I did not know, for example, that while voting is compulsory in 19 of the world’s 166 electoral democracies, only 9 strictly enforce it. I really appreciated Ms Brett’s succinct summary of the differences between the democracies of the USA and Australia.
‘Where the United States favours liberty and rights over democracy and majorities, we favour democracy and majorities over liberty and rights.’
Ms Brett explains this by as being a consequence of British settlement in different centuries. When the early settlers left Britain for America, government was still controlled by the monarch rather than the parliament, and individuals were being persecuted for their religious beliefs. In the early European settlement of America, the thoughts of the seventeenth century English philosopher John Locke were influential. By the time the Australian colonies were establishing their political institutions, the British parliament was in control of the British government. For Australia, the key influence in founding our institutions was the philosopher and political reformer, Jeremy Bentham. Bentham argued that rights are created by law, and laws and rights require government.
It’s been a long time since I read Locke and Bentham.
I was particularly interested in reading about the development of preferential voting. I know how it works but hadn’t spent a lot of time thinking about how (and by whom and why) it was developed.
I share Ms Brett’s conclusion:
‘From the invention of the Australian ballot to the humble democracy sausage, we have been innovators in electoral practice.
There are many reasons to be frustrated with Australian politics in the second decade of the twenty-first century, as we suffer our sixth prime minister in eight years, but our electoral system is not one of them, What the story of compulsory voting tells us is how very good we are at elections. We should celebrate it.’
I’d recommend this book to anyone interested in the history of Australia’s electoral system.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
May 16, 2019
Educational but fascinating, Judith Brett has done well to explain and explore Australia's electoral and voting history whilst engaging the reader the whole way through. Highly recommend if you've ever wondered how and why Australia has compulsory voting, or why the US, UK and other English speaking nations do not.
August 2, 2025
Enjoyable read.
Reads more like a chronology than anything else, but if ur a zealot for Australian political history give this a go.
Learned a few things I didn’t already know, such as apparently it was Peter Dutton’s idea to have the same sex marriage vote held by the ABS to avoid a parliamentary vote on the subject?
Australia has the best political system in the world, and seeing it develop over 124 years through the pages of this book has only firmed my belief in this fact.
Reads more like a chronology than anything else, but if ur a zealot for Australian political history give this a go.
Learned a few things I didn’t already know, such as apparently it was Peter Dutton’s idea to have the same sex marriage vote held by the ABS to avoid a parliamentary vote on the subject?
Australia has the best political system in the world, and seeing it develop over 124 years through the pages of this book has only firmed my belief in this fact.
April 24, 2019
The AEC has just released the latest enrolment stats - "A record 96.8% of eligible Australians are enrolled for the 2019 federal election. This is the most complete electoral roll in history with youth enrolment also an all-time high of 88.8% (18-24 YO's)."
Judith Brett's books helps to explain why Australian's love to exercise their electoral rights.
Full review here - http://bronasbooks.blogspot.com/2019/...
Judith Brett's books helps to explain why Australian's love to exercise their electoral rights.
Full review here - http://bronasbooks.blogspot.com/2019/...
July 7, 2019
A really interesting look at not just the things that make Australian voting and elections pretty unique: compulsory voting, preferential voting, and an independent electoral authority; but also why Australia was the place all these things happened.
August 30, 2020
Who would've thought a book about election reform would be such a page-turner! Judith Brett goes through the process of how many elements of the Australian system came to be: preferential voting, compulsory voting, the secret ballot, independent election bodies, postal/absentee voting, and more. Sometimes it came about by accident, sometimes because political parties predicted an advantage, and sometimes due to genuine heroes who believed democracy could/should be better.
This book doesn't waste time but gives just the right amount of context for everything, and as such is also a good view into how our political landscape came to be, with its current party alliances. It also discusses the benefits of different voting systems, and what the world owes Australia for exporting our successful experiments in democracy.
I agree with Judith Brett's thought in the book, that this history should be just as much a part of the Australian identity as the ANZAC spirit.
This book doesn't waste time but gives just the right amount of context for everything, and as such is also a good view into how our political landscape came to be, with its current party alliances. It also discusses the benefits of different voting systems, and what the world owes Australia for exporting our successful experiments in democracy.
I agree with Judith Brett's thought in the book, that this history should be just as much a part of the Australian identity as the ANZAC spirit.
June 29, 2019
Although the book went too fast sometimes and didn't explain things well enough, it was also full of really interesting facts about the history of Australian elections. It also made me realise how much of the way our democracy is run I take for granted, like an independent government body running elections so candidates don't have anything to do with it, the utility of preferential voting, and the influence of mandatory voting on voter turnout. It made me feel lucky to have grown up with what seems to be an excellent election system, but also dismayed that even the best electoral system doesn't prevent terrible politicians being elected.
December 13, 2022
Like voting, this book is compulsory! Brilliant!
November 23, 2019
I’ve always thought that, despite its flaws., Australia’s electoral system is one of the best in the world. After reading this book, I’m even prouder.
Australia is one of the few countries in the world where voting in elections is compulsory. On the whole, we embrace election day – we take the kids to the polling booth, people rock up in bikinis, there’s a sausage sizzle (the “democracy sausage” of this book’s title,) there are cake stalls -it’s a great day out, with a holiday feel as voting is always on a Saturday. Then we stay up to watch the count from the tally room that night, fortified by drinks and snacks. Election parties (which sometimes tun into wakes!) are another feature.
Judith Brett has given a lively account of Australia’s electoral system, with its aim pf providing every opportunity to participate in the electoral process – postal voting, pre-poll voting, out -of-area voting, mobile voting centres at nursing homes, prisons, hospitals, remote areas. The story of how this came to be is a fascinating one – the popular pressure from various interest groups, such as women, the influences from overseas, the individuals and our diverse legislators. Judith Brett’s book is well-researched and tightly written.
It’s a warts-and-all story – the disgraceful treatment of our indigenous peoples is highlighted. They were not given the right to vote until 1962, due to out-and-out racism and political expediency.
Probably the strongest point of our system is that so many opportunities are provided to vote. Yes, our interest in politics fluctuates, particularly as many of our leaders are negative and toxic, but we can always get involved.
No, it’s not a perfect system, but I think we do elections pretty well.
Australia is one of the few countries in the world where voting in elections is compulsory. On the whole, we embrace election day – we take the kids to the polling booth, people rock up in bikinis, there’s a sausage sizzle (the “democracy sausage” of this book’s title,) there are cake stalls -it’s a great day out, with a holiday feel as voting is always on a Saturday. Then we stay up to watch the count from the tally room that night, fortified by drinks and snacks. Election parties (which sometimes tun into wakes!) are another feature.
Judith Brett has given a lively account of Australia’s electoral system, with its aim pf providing every opportunity to participate in the electoral process – postal voting, pre-poll voting, out -of-area voting, mobile voting centres at nursing homes, prisons, hospitals, remote areas. The story of how this came to be is a fascinating one – the popular pressure from various interest groups, such as women, the influences from overseas, the individuals and our diverse legislators. Judith Brett’s book is well-researched and tightly written.
It’s a warts-and-all story – the disgraceful treatment of our indigenous peoples is highlighted. They were not given the right to vote until 1962, due to out-and-out racism and political expediency.
Probably the strongest point of our system is that so many opportunities are provided to vote. Yes, our interest in politics fluctuates, particularly as many of our leaders are negative and toxic, but we can always get involved.
No, it’s not a perfect system, but I think we do elections pretty well.
March 10, 2019
Judith Brett’s From Secret Ballot to Democracy Sausage is a very readable history of key aspects of Australian elections: the secret ballot, impartial administration of elections, preferential voting, compulsory voting, voting on Saturdays, and voting at other times and places. It also looks at how voting eligibility was expanded and occasionally reduced, voting in plebiscites, and some of the non-political traditions around voting, such as the ‘democracy sausages’ sold by voluntary groups at polling booths.
One of Brett’s themes is how Australian elections link to broader aspects of Australian political culture, and in particular the argument that Australia is a ‘Benthamite’ society, influenced by the utilitarian philosopher Jeremy Bentham. Unlike the rights-oriented Americans, Australians are happy for governments to do things for us and accept some coercion in return.
Compulsory voting was first proposed very early in Australian democracy, in the 1860s. After several failed attempts around the country in the following decades, voting was made compulsory in Queensland in 1914 and federally in 1924.
Brett notes that there were few arguments against compulsory voting that drew on in-principle objections, such as that in a liberal society people should be free not to vote. The people who opposed compulsory voting were more worried that it would advantage their political rivals.
In recent times, as Brett explains in a later chapter, opposition to compulsory voting has mostly come from the political right. But in earlier times these judgments of political advantage and disadvantage produced a more mixed set of supporters and opponents.
Some on Labor were concerned that, with many of their potential supporters not on the electoral roll, compulsory voting would advantage conservative candidates. And with many potential Labor supporters being itinerant workers, they could be fined for not being able to vote. On the political right, there was concern (which still exists today) that Labor is better organised, and that compulsion would make it easier to get anti-Labor voters to the polling booths.
Many current aspects of Australia’s electoral system deal with the practical and political concerns around compulsory voting: compulsory registration as well as voting to reduce biases in the electoral roll, postal voting, absentee voting, and voting on Saturdays when most people are not at work.
Although there has not been strong liberal resistance to compulsory voting, one reason for this is that it uses soft compulsion. As Brett observes, voters can just put blank ballots in the box (a secret ballot helps here). And the fine is only $20 for those who don’t vote. We get the high turnouts that are compulsory voting’s main objective with a gentle nudge and the reward of a cheap sausage.
From Secret Ballot to Democracy Sausage’s brevity is a virtue (183 pages of text) but there was one topic I’d have liked more on, which is restricting the vote to citizens.
In the original 1902 franchise legislation, anyone who had been in the country for six months or more and satisfied the other eligibility criteria could vote. But as Brett points out, we don’t now give permanent residents the vote. She could have added that New Zealand residents of Australia and long-term temporary visa holder who would have had the vote under the 1902 rules don’t now.
While a residence requirement is reasonable, to ensure that voters have knowledge of and a stake in Australia, I think it is problematic to exclude people who pay tax and whose lives are directly affected by Australian governments from having a greater say in who forms those governments. In an aside Brett says that light regulation of campaign finance is a ‘democratic deficit’, but this regulation exacerbates the political problems of non-citizens.
Overall, this is a very interesting and enjoyable book. But one small criticism: just because it is aimed at a general rather than an academic audience doesn’t mean an index should be omitted.
One of Brett’s themes is how Australian elections link to broader aspects of Australian political culture, and in particular the argument that Australia is a ‘Benthamite’ society, influenced by the utilitarian philosopher Jeremy Bentham. Unlike the rights-oriented Americans, Australians are happy for governments to do things for us and accept some coercion in return.
Compulsory voting was first proposed very early in Australian democracy, in the 1860s. After several failed attempts around the country in the following decades, voting was made compulsory in Queensland in 1914 and federally in 1924.
Brett notes that there were few arguments against compulsory voting that drew on in-principle objections, such as that in a liberal society people should be free not to vote. The people who opposed compulsory voting were more worried that it would advantage their political rivals.
In recent times, as Brett explains in a later chapter, opposition to compulsory voting has mostly come from the political right. But in earlier times these judgments of political advantage and disadvantage produced a more mixed set of supporters and opponents.
Some on Labor were concerned that, with many of their potential supporters not on the electoral roll, compulsory voting would advantage conservative candidates. And with many potential Labor supporters being itinerant workers, they could be fined for not being able to vote. On the political right, there was concern (which still exists today) that Labor is better organised, and that compulsion would make it easier to get anti-Labor voters to the polling booths.
Many current aspects of Australia’s electoral system deal with the practical and political concerns around compulsory voting: compulsory registration as well as voting to reduce biases in the electoral roll, postal voting, absentee voting, and voting on Saturdays when most people are not at work.
Although there has not been strong liberal resistance to compulsory voting, one reason for this is that it uses soft compulsion. As Brett observes, voters can just put blank ballots in the box (a secret ballot helps here). And the fine is only $20 for those who don’t vote. We get the high turnouts that are compulsory voting’s main objective with a gentle nudge and the reward of a cheap sausage.
From Secret Ballot to Democracy Sausage’s brevity is a virtue (183 pages of text) but there was one topic I’d have liked more on, which is restricting the vote to citizens.
In the original 1902 franchise legislation, anyone who had been in the country for six months or more and satisfied the other eligibility criteria could vote. But as Brett points out, we don’t now give permanent residents the vote. She could have added that New Zealand residents of Australia and long-term temporary visa holder who would have had the vote under the 1902 rules don’t now.
While a residence requirement is reasonable, to ensure that voters have knowledge of and a stake in Australia, I think it is problematic to exclude people who pay tax and whose lives are directly affected by Australian governments from having a greater say in who forms those governments. In an aside Brett says that light regulation of campaign finance is a ‘democratic deficit’, but this regulation exacerbates the political problems of non-citizens.
Overall, this is a very interesting and enjoyable book. But one small criticism: just because it is aimed at a general rather than an academic audience doesn’t mean an index should be omitted.
June 20, 2025
having taken our voting culture for granted my entire life, this was a good challenge to my preconception that compulsory voting and civic engagement were inevitable in australia and that this has remained relatively unchallenged throughout our history. it was cool to see that on the contrary, we had a really strong democratic, improvisational culture even pre-federation and to learn about some of the more anonymous figures who made a push for the various innovations that came together in creating today's overall political climate.
it's a balanced, non-partisan book throughout but the somewhat selective put-downs of the US made me feel like i was missing the bigger picture of the anglosphere and world at large sometimes. in some respects it was quite interesting to see just how fragmented the voting/political process is there, e.g. the hugely different electoral governance from state-to-state leading to voter fraud/miscounts, but i did feel like in a book about australia itself there was an outsized proportion of comparison to the US versus the other, more similar commonwealth countries
overall though, a surprisingly interesting lens on australian history!
it's a balanced, non-partisan book throughout but the somewhat selective put-downs of the US made me feel like i was missing the bigger picture of the anglosphere and world at large sometimes. in some respects it was quite interesting to see just how fragmented the voting/political process is there, e.g. the hugely different electoral governance from state-to-state leading to voter fraud/miscounts, but i did feel like in a book about australia itself there was an outsized proportion of comparison to the US versus the other, more similar commonwealth countries
overall though, a surprisingly interesting lens on australian history!
July 2, 2025
As promised, Brett tells the story of why we vote the way we do in an engaging and accessible way.
Australia’s elections diverged from the UK’s (and the U.S.’) early on. We got a secret ballot, administration of elections by the state, the ability to vote just about anywhere and by post, a Saturday election day, gave women (but not First Nations Australians) the vote, and so forth. Brett explains how each of these features arose, and in doing so tells a fascinating story of our colonial and early federation history, some of the important political characters at the time, and our national psyche.
Australia’s elections diverged from the UK’s (and the U.S.’) early on. We got a secret ballot, administration of elections by the state, the ability to vote just about anywhere and by post, a Saturday election day, gave women (but not First Nations Australians) the vote, and so forth. Brett explains how each of these features arose, and in doing so tells a fascinating story of our colonial and early federation history, some of the important political characters at the time, and our national psyche.
October 27, 2022
As a Civics & Citizenship / Parliamentary educator, I devoured this. A really inspiring and wonderful read.
There are some facts I need to contact the publisher/author about for verification re. South Australian dates. (First election 1857 not 1856, the lower house is the House of Assembly, not the Legislative Assembly). I can't believe it, but I've become that annoying guy who is compelled to correct facts... it was bound to happen.
It felt a little anti-feminist and against the spirit of women lifting up women to include the word "plump" when describing Mary Lee.
There are some facts I need to contact the publisher/author about for verification re. South Australian dates. (First election 1857 not 1856, the lower house is the House of Assembly, not the Legislative Assembly). I can't believe it, but I've become that annoying guy who is compelled to correct facts... it was bound to happen.
It felt a little anti-feminist and against the spirit of women lifting up women to include the word "plump" when describing Mary Lee.
March 23, 2019
This book - what an enjoyable and interesting read!
Brett takes us through the debates that were had, right back before Federation through to today, that influenced Australia’s voting system. Views of the past are sometimes amusing, sometimes unpalatable, but all informative. I love the description of how voting was once conducted in Australian pubs - with the returning officer making the voting tally public as it was being counted, thus enabling the losing side to head out to round up more votes! Or the time spent discussing Catherine Spence and her contribution to an alternative to first-past-the-post voting.
Really fascinating; something all Australians and political nerds should read.
Brett takes us through the debates that were had, right back before Federation through to today, that influenced Australia’s voting system. Views of the past are sometimes amusing, sometimes unpalatable, but all informative. I love the description of how voting was once conducted in Australian pubs - with the returning officer making the voting tally public as it was being counted, thus enabling the losing side to head out to round up more votes! Or the time spent discussing Catherine Spence and her contribution to an alternative to first-past-the-post voting.
Really fascinating; something all Australians and political nerds should read.
June 12, 2019
I really enjoyed this book - Judith Brett has produced a genuinely interesting account of how Australia came to be one of the few countries in the world to have compulsory voter registration, and compulsory voting. I learned a lot, and along the way I was introduced to historical figures I had never heard of until now. I would recommend this fascinating read to everyone who has even a passing interest in Australia's history. It's great!
June 1, 2020
As I approached the final pages of this book, I started to tear up.
I don’t often cry out of pride for my country as it has a lot it needs to answer for.
But goddamn it we are fucking AMAZING at elections. Long live the democracy sausage!
I don’t often cry out of pride for my country as it has a lot it needs to answer for.
But goddamn it we are fucking AMAZING at elections. Long live the democracy sausage!
September 23, 2019
Every household in Australia should have a copy of this book. A fascinating study of Australian voting. Fact-packed and intensely historical, this book provides a comprehensive look at this unique aspect of Australian culture.
November 20, 2020
Excellent. Makes a potentially dry subject fascinating and absorbing. It illustrates aspects of Australian history, politics and society which I was unaware of.
May 31, 2022
Insightful but dry.
January 28, 2024
a must read
Great balance of facts, character and niche silliness that explains why voting in Australia is so special. Would read again
Great balance of facts, character and niche silliness that explains why voting in Australia is so special. Would read again
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